M.R. Lops
Ridin' The Range
Ok, I swore this would never happen with me, but everyone makes mistakes. So, I have 2 Holland Lop and Mini Rex Mix does that I've been trying to sell with no luck lately. They're currently 15 weeks old, so about 3 1/2 months old. A couple months ago I got a Mini Rex buck, he is 14 weeks old, so a little over 3 months old.
I raise purebred Holland Lops and Mini Rexes, the only reason I ended up with the mixes is because I was going to start working on a new breed called the Plush Lop, with the fur of a Mini Rex with lopped ears, but I decided to just purchase some Plush Lops from a breeder who has been working on them for years, which I will be getting in a week.
So, anyways I've been planning on selling these 2 does and it got to when they were 3 months old, and I know you're suppose to separate them by then. But, I thought, oh, just a few more days and I'll have them sold. Well, they still haven't sold, so I finally decided that I would separate them tomorrow. The only reason I've waited this long is because they are currently kept in an air conditioned barn, and its been in the 90's and 100's here, and I have a hutch outside that the buck was going to go in, when it got cooler. And then I would keep him outside in his hutch, I just didn't want to take him from air conditioning to 100's. So, the weather has gotten a little bit cooler, and I decided to move him out tomorrow.
So, I go out to the barn, and by the way I have never seen my Mini Rex buck act "bucky", the 2 does are sisters and are always together, and he usually just sits in a corner by himself. But they all have gotten along just fine. but, tonight when I went out to check on the bunnies, I saw him sniffing and kind of rubbing against one of the does and acting more friendly towards them than usual. Then, he tried to hump the other doe, but with no luck (I hope) because she was laying down. So, I quickly opened their cage and took him out. I put him outside in his new hutch and he seems to like it in there. I just hope that I was soon enough. As I said before, he's never acted "bucky" before today. I guess his hormones finally kicked in. The question is, was I too late?
I'm also still working on trying to find the 2 does homes, but now I'm not sure what to do, because I'd hate to sell them to someone and have them end up being pregnant. I have attempted palpating one of my does before (my Holland doe) with no luck. Is there any other way to tell?
Any advice would be appreciated. And shame on me for not separating them sooner.
I raise purebred Holland Lops and Mini Rexes, the only reason I ended up with the mixes is because I was going to start working on a new breed called the Plush Lop, with the fur of a Mini Rex with lopped ears, but I decided to just purchase some Plush Lops from a breeder who has been working on them for years, which I will be getting in a week.
So, anyways I've been planning on selling these 2 does and it got to when they were 3 months old, and I know you're suppose to separate them by then. But, I thought, oh, just a few more days and I'll have them sold. Well, they still haven't sold, so I finally decided that I would separate them tomorrow. The only reason I've waited this long is because they are currently kept in an air conditioned barn, and its been in the 90's and 100's here, and I have a hutch outside that the buck was going to go in, when it got cooler. And then I would keep him outside in his hutch, I just didn't want to take him from air conditioning to 100's. So, the weather has gotten a little bit cooler, and I decided to move him out tomorrow.
So, I go out to the barn, and by the way I have never seen my Mini Rex buck act "bucky", the 2 does are sisters and are always together, and he usually just sits in a corner by himself. But they all have gotten along just fine. but, tonight when I went out to check on the bunnies, I saw him sniffing and kind of rubbing against one of the does and acting more friendly towards them than usual. Then, he tried to hump the other doe, but with no luck (I hope) because she was laying down. So, I quickly opened their cage and took him out. I put him outside in his new hutch and he seems to like it in there. I just hope that I was soon enough. As I said before, he's never acted "bucky" before today. I guess his hormones finally kicked in. The question is, was I too late?
I'm also still working on trying to find the 2 does homes, but now I'm not sure what to do, because I'd hate to sell them to someone and have them end up being pregnant. I have attempted palpating one of my does before (my Holland doe) with no luck. Is there any other way to tell?
Any advice would be appreciated. And shame on me for not separating them sooner.
There's probably not many of us who haven't at some point missed a pull date or experienced that omg-grab. Usually by the time it's seen it's already happened before being witnessed even if it didn't take. Time can so easily slip away...31 days comes up quick, no less just 7 days which can make all the difference in the world and goes by just like 'that'. Any that were 12 weeks or over that were exposed to a buck of the same age or more I'd consider bred, even though they may not be. I'd be most concerned with those 16 weeks but it can happen at 12 weeks. 
